[U: Releasing on 8/21] Android O Rollout Reportedly Delayed – Google to Reveal Its Name on the Day of Solar Eclipse

Google’s next version of the Android mobile operating system is reportedly getting a late release this year. Android 8.0 (currently carrying the fan favorite name of Android Oreo) was expected to be released to Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL in the second week of August. However, an unverified report suggests that Google isn’t yet ready for the public release of its next gen mobile OS.

Android 8.0 public rollout reportedly delayed

Latest report from AndroidPolice claims that Google isn’t yet ready to deliver Android O. While the rollout is being delayed, there is one bit of good news for Android fans – Google is finally going to name Android 8.0 on August 21. It is unclear what the reason is behind this delay, but at least we are soon going to find out what is Google is planning to call its next version of Android.

David Ruddock of Android Police reports citing a source whose information he said he couldn’t verify that the naming “event” is to happen on the day of the solar eclipse. Ruddock added that “Google is planning some degree of spectacle around this [Android 8.0 naming]. It won’t just be a random “oh hey here’s a statue” thing.”

Why’d Google need anything more than a mascot this year? Unclear, but we are certainly excited to see what this spectacle is exactly.

Considering Ruddock has emphasized he couldn’t verify the information of Google naming Android 8.0 on August 21st, it should be taken with a grain of salt. However, he does seem sure about the rollout delay. Software delays aren’t a surprise since their makers have to fix and stabilize them before they are released to the public, however, Android 8.0 has been under testing for nearly 5 months.

Google and Android fans have been testing Android 8.0 for several months now since the release of the first Developer Preview back in March. Last year, Google had released Android Nougat on Nexus devices on August 22 (was named in June) before releasing it with its first ever Pixel phones. Some have speculated that Google may release Android 8.0 with the next iteration of the Pixel duo, however, it seems unlikely that Google will push the Android 8.0 release until October.

While Android 8.0 may not be releasing next week, as was previously expected, Android fans can certainly hope to soon receive the public version of Android 8.0 – hopefully sometime later this month.

[Update]: Release expected on the same day, as well

Trusted “leakster” Evan Blass has just tweeted that Google will be releasing Android O during the week of 21st August, most likely on 21st itself. While he hasn’t said anything about the name “spectacle” mentioned by AP, it is likely that the company is planning to unveil the name and release the OS on the same day.

Android O release scheduled for the week of 8/21, "most likely on the 21st itself."